Burchett / 3 Senator Eric Zhang

S.S._____

A BILL
To Increase the funding of public transportation and increase its efficiency.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America
in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
This act may be cited as the E.J. Zhang Act of 2015.
SECTION 2. FINDINGS
Congress hereby finds and declares that,
1) Every $10 million in capital investment in public transportation yields $30 million in
increased business sales.
2) The 1106-mile route cuts the journey time down to 6 hours and 51 minutes, instead of the
16 hours it previously took in China
3) From Chicago to Seattle, the trip takes about two full days of travel. From Los Angeles,
the trip takes about 34 hours.
4) Every $1 invested in public transportation generates approximately $4 in economic
returns.
5) 60 percent of carbon monoxide pollution comes from motor vehicles.
6) 50,000 jobs result from the productivity gains of $1 billion in federal investment.
7) The train in China runs at a highest speed of 186 mi/h (300km/h)
8) Amtraks Customer satisfaction rate is only 82.
9) with a basic charge of $362 for a roomette, $781 for a family bedroom and $813 for what
is called the superliner bedroom.
10) Trains emit only 25% as many nitrogen oxides per passenger mile as a single-occupant
auto, and nearly 100% less hydrocarbons and carbon monoxides.
11) More than half of Amtraks trains operate at top speeds of 100 mph or greater.
12) While most routes on the Chinese network call for operating speeds of 125 mph to 190
mph, some allow trains to travel at nearly 220 mph.
13) The fuel efficiency of a fully-occupied train car is 15 times greater than that of the
average commuter's single-occupant auto.
14) If one in 10 Americans used public transportation regularly, the U.S. reliance on foreign
oil could be cut by more than 40%, which translates to the amount of oil we import from
Saudi Arabia each year.
15)Transportation-related fatalities constituted just under 2% of the 2.43 million deaths per
year from all causes in the United States, or 1 in 56.
16)Vehicles with a capacity of 10 passengers or more represented just 0.1% of the total
fatalities.
17)The death numbers of highway accidents (in vehicle and non-occupants) are 32,885,
Transit accidents are 215 per year.
18) Mr. Konop said a sales tax would be a more progressive, fairer way of funding public
transit that also would provide a steadier revenue stream than property levies subject to
periodic renewal or replacement
SECTION 3. STATUTORY LANGUAGE
A) This bill shall increase the national funding from the taxes from 77 billions to 115.5
billions on public transportation, the money shall be increased from gas taxes from 48 to
95. The Department of Transportation shall distribute the money to the states with the
requirements of using it to increase train speed, shorten wait time for buses and city
subways, as well as creating more job opportunities in the public transportation sector.
B) Department of Transportation and states public transportation services are administering.